Policy news

Epilepsy rescue medication and your child

Epilepsy Scotland is hosting an anonymous survey about epilepsy rescue medication for children on behalf of Hayward Medical Communications. If you have a child who is prescribed emergency rescue medication for seizures (eg. buccal midazolam, rectal diazepam), please click here. The short survey takes about 10 minutes to complete and does not record any of your personal data.

Clinical Standards for Neurological Health Services in Scotland

NHS Health Improvement Scotland (HIS) has launched some new standards for neurology services in Scotland. There is a two year programme underway which aims to support NHS health boards to achieve these standards and improve neurology services.

All NHS boards have appointed a Health Improvement Lead who will lead on putting the standards into practice in their local area. Boards have completed a self-evaluation in order to find out which standards they are already meeting, identify the challenges and decide which standards are a priority to focus upon.

The boards are currently concentrating on general standards which affect most neurological services. However, they will also be looking at specific standards for epilepsy services. You can see a copy of the standards here.

Epilepsy Scotland recently worked with the NHS to hold an epilepsy-specific learning day about the new standards. This brought people with epilepsy, charities and people from NHS health boards together. Representatives from the health boards heard views on epilepsy services in Scotland and ideas on how the new standards should be put into practice. One participant, Fraser Paterson, reported back:

“Recently there was a conference discussing the implementation of the Clinical Standards for Neurological Services in Scotland. The focus of the day was epilepsy. Several people with the condition played a very active part in a mini forum in front of the whole conference! Two of the key points that came from that were how important and helpful the Epilepsy Nurse service was to the patients and carers, and also the support provided by Epilepsy Scotland in particular.”

Please check our website for future updates on how these standards are being put into place.

Further information and external links

‘Better Health Better Care’ – The Scottish Government’s strategy for a healthier Scotland
www.scotland.gov.uk/

‘Better Together’ – Scotland’s patient experience programme
www.scotland.gov.uk/

Improving the Health and Wellbeing of People with Long Term Conditions in Scotland - A national Action Plan for the delivery of the Scottish Government's vision for the management of Long Term Conditions
www.scotland.gov.uk/

SIGN Guideline 70: Diagnosis and Management of Epilepsy in Adults
www.sign.ac.uk/

SIGN Guideline 81: Diagnosis and Management of Epilepsy in Children and Young People
www.sign.ac.uk/